End of an Era: Continuous Human Presence in Space to Cease with ISS Deorbit
HOUSTON – After a quarter-century of unbroken human habitation, the International Space Station (ISS) is slated for a controlled descent into the Pacific Ocean before the decade’s end, marking the end of continuous human presence in low Earth orbit. NASA finalized an agreement with SpaceX in 2024 to utilize a modified Dragon spacecraft for the decommissioning process,bringing to a close a remarkable 25-year chapter in space exploration.
The impending retirement of the ISS raises fundamental questions about the future of human spaceflight. Originally envisioned to be superseded by commercially developed space stations, those plans have faced repeated delays, adn NASA has recently adjusted its operational model, shifting from permanent crews to month-long research visits involving four astronauts at a time-a reduction from the seven who previously resided full-time aboard the station. This transition reflects a reevaluation of priorities and a growing recognition of the potential for automated operations and in-space manufacturing.
Launched in 1998, the ISS has served as a unique international laboratory, fostering collaboration between space agencies from the United States, Russia, Canada, Japan, and Europe.Throughout its lifespan,the station has hosted over 200 astronauts from 19 countries,facilitating groundbreaking research in fields ranging from biology and medicine to materials science and astrophysics. The continuous human presence has been instrumental in understanding the long-term effects of space travel on the human body, paving the way for future missions to the Moon and Mars.
However, maintaining the ISS has proven resource-intensive, with crew members dedicating notable time to station upkeep. Emerging technologies are challenging the necessity of constant human oversight. Companies like Varda have successfully demonstrated the feasibility of in-space manufacturing without the need for a continuous human crew, recently securing a reentry license from the FAA in June 2025 for their automated spacecraft.
Despite these advancements, the psychological impact of ending a 25-year tradition of continuous human presence in orbit should not be underestimated. For generations, humanity has grown accustomed to having a permanent outpost overlooking Earth, circling the planet every 90 minutes.The ISS’s decommissioning will temporarily sever that connection, leaving a void in our collective experience of space exploration.
as the station prepares for its final descent, it represents not just the end of an era, but also a pivotal moment for the future of human activity beyond Earth. Whether a new permanent outpost will emerge remains to be seen, but the legacy of the ISS-a testament to international cooperation and human ingenuity-will undoubtedly continue to inspire future generations of explorers.
